76 LE NATURALISTE CANADIEN 
by the ichthyologists. But—in this country at least—-there 
seems to be a gap in the story. We are told that Eels never 
breed in fresh water, and that all those in our rivers and 
lakes have come from the sea, no matter how far inland 
they are found,or what barriers they have had to pass on the 
wav. And to account for their presence above apparentlv im- 
passible rapids and cataracts, it is said that Eels have been 
seen crawling around such obstructions on the damp rocks 
or through the wet grass. All of these stories that [ have 
read came from Europe, and it is somewhat suspicious 
that they nearly always lack the precision of a definitelv 
stated time and place. But has anyone in Canada ever seen 
Eels “ making the portage ”’? In the Ottawa valley where I 
live, Eels are abundant in all the waters, and if they come 
from the sea, they must ascend the rivers in large numbers. 
They are found in the source-lakes of the Madawaska, and 
to reach their stations there, they have to pass besides many 
difficult rapids, several cataracts which to all appearances 
are absolutely insurmountable by any fish. But although I 
have questioned scores of river men and others who would 
be likely to know, I have never met anyone who saw Eels 
travelling overland. 
The Eels are there. They must have passed the waterfalls 
somehow, and not in tens or twenties, small numbers that 
might escape notice, but in hundreds and thousands. How 
do they manage to do it without anyone seeing them ? 
Yours truly, 
CHAs. MACNAMARA. 
De même que notre correspondant, nous pouvons dire que 
nous n'avons encore rencontré personne qui ait été témoin 
de ces trajets sur terre accomplis par les Anguilles. Mais 
cela ne nous empêche pas, comme M. Macnamara, de croire 
à la réalité du fait. Puisqu'on trouve des Anguilles dans des 
pièces fermées d'eau douce et qu'elles ne peuvent y être nées, 
il faut bien qu’elles y soient venues en rampant sur le sol et 
hors de l’eau. 
PE EP était. bat eo... 
PR CT 
